Where can I buy a decent home in a small safe US town within 100 miles of major amenities for under $60K?
Answers:
a friend told me recently that Victoria, Texas has the best pricing on homes.....Houston is an hour and a half away. The coast of Rockport, Texas (a thriving small town and very expensive property) is one hour away. We are from Texas and know that Victoria is a nice easy town. I think the population is about 50,000. We can't figure out why homes are so inexpensive, but she has researched it.
Other answers:
Harrison, Arkansas, just south of Branson, Missouri
Harrison, Arkansas, just south of Branson, Missouri
Within 100 miles of Asheville, NC. You would love it.
Many parts of the rural South can fill that bill. Try the areas around Nashville, Tennessee, and the Smoky Mountain region. The climate's gentle (lower utilities), taxes are super low, in some places electricity is still at super low rates because of the rural electrification act, there's a lot of opportunity for outdoor activities and you can be in a larger city with an hour.
If you like a more snowy climate, the areas outside Lake George NY have a lot of homes that sell inexpensively, and you're only an hour from Albany. The scenery is gorgeous and if you like the outdoor life and four seasons, you can find a lot to enjoy. It's really quiet and low-stress, low crime rate, friendly people and a close-knit community. You have to be able to handle the snow though.
I would suggest NE PA area ( Wilkes-Barre / Scranton).... I think it would best fit your budgetary concerns.... also low crime. However that is just one place.... I am sure you will find places all over the US that fit your criteria.
The state of Maine - say, within 100 miles of Portland, Augusta or Bangor. Maine meets most of your criteria with the possible exception of "under $60k". For that, you'd probably have to settle for a trailer or a fixer-upper. Property taxes vary from town to town but are generally low. Absolutely safe and stress-free. If you're interested, ping me and I'll give you a real estate contact.